Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Battle of the Affordable Body Scrubs

The summer is fast approaching and I am starting to think about getting my body skin in tip top shape for all of the outfits that I'm going to be wearing.I always exfoliate twice a week regardless of the season but theres something about the springtime that makes me want to crack out my favourite pampering treats and get super prepared for the summer, especially as I'm going on holiday in a couple of months time and want to have super smooth pins!I've got four different body scrubs that I have been using lately in a bid to pit them against each other in a battle of the body scrubs post! I use all of these either in the bath or the shower on damp skin but without being in the direct stream of water so that they are at their most effective. Otherwise, the water washes away the majority of the product and it becomes too slippy on the skin.

I'll start with my favourite and thats the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. This exfoliator has been a firm favourite of mine for the last two years at least and there's nothing that I don't love about it. It smells delicious, just like key lime pie and out of all of these body scrubs, it is the most effective at sloughing away the dead skin cells as it is very abrasive and leaves my skin feeling super soft and moisturised. You can read my full review of this sugar scrub here and buy it from Boots.The Garnier Body Tonic Smoothing Scrub which featured in my affordable skincare haul(buy from Chemist Direct for a great discount) is the one body scrub that I prefer to use in the mornings as it has a really zingy citrus and apple scent that feels so awakening and invigorating, especially when combined with the scrubbing action of the exfoliator. The sugar exfoliating particles are pretty densely packed into the gel like solution, although not as much as the Soap and Glory Scrub, and it does a fabulous job at smoothing the body. I thought that the gel texture of the solution would make this too slippy on the skin but it isn't at all. Plus it has fruit extracts to help the smoothing effect along. It is really effective but quite gentle at the same time so if you like an intense effect but have more sensitive skin then this is the one for you.

Next up is the Coconut Body Scrub from The Body Shop (available here). I have a full review of this body scrub in this post but essentially, it has lots of gritty particles in a creamy solution that does a pretty good job at exfoliating the skin. It doesn't do as good a job as the Garnier or Soap and Glory scrubs yet it is the most expensive at £13. It has a lovely light coconut scent and the creamy solution that it is in leaves the skin feeling soft after use, although not as soft as Sugar Crush which is so moisturising, I needn't follow up with a body butter at all. I guess in isolation, the Coconut Body Scrub is a fab product but when compared to the other two amazing ones above, it does fall short of being my favourite!My least favourite of the bunch has to be the Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Cocoa Butter Scrub (buy it from Chemist Direct for less than the RRP). This is another product that featured in my affordable skincare haul and was the one product of the bunch that I was quite disappointed by because it isn't very abrasive. If you're someone who has sensitive skin or who is just trying out exfoliating for the first time then this would be a good one for you but if, like me, you prefer a more gritty, abrasive scrub then this one isn't for you I'm afraid. What really put me off was the scent. I had super high hopes for this as I adore the scent of the Palmers Cocoa Butter body moisturiser but this scrub smells awful. It has a slight hint of cocoa butter but a strong smell of wet dog. It really reminds me of the scent of a veterinary surgery that we used to take our labrador to when I was a child.Needless to say, I wont be repurchasing the Palmers scrub. I would happily use The Body Shop scrub again and would repurchase one of their scrubs if it were to be on offer but the ones that I will definitely repurchase would be the Garnier one and most definitely The Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub (or their Breakfast Scrub) as it is my absolute favourite and I always have one of these in my bathroom!What are your favourite body scrubs? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Soap and Glory sugar crush is one of my all time favoruite scents, it's so lovely and fresh! I have a tup of this too and I can't wait to start using it (just waiting to finish the scrub I currently have on the go!)

I lve the soap and glory sugar crush body wash and lotion. I think I need to add the body scrub to my collection! I own the body sop one, and last time I used it, my skin reacted strangely to it, so I sadly might be allergic! Great post though x

I love the Body Shop scrub! I have the Chocolate one and it's something I find myself always buying when I run out. That's such a shame about the Palmer's scrub I thought that would have been really good, I've seen it about but think I'll give it a miss. Don't want to smell like wet dog haha!! Thanks for sharing and being honest! I really love your blog, I read it everyday! x